Development of a whole-cell biosensor for β-lactamase inhibitor discovery

The production of beta-lactamases by bacterial pathogens endangers antimicrobial therapy, and new inhibitors for beta-lactamases are urgently needed. We report the development of a luminescent-based biosensor that quantifies beta-lactamase inhibition in a cellular context, based on the activation of transcriptional factor AmpR following the exposure of bacterial cells to beta-lactams. This rapid method can account for factors like membrane permeability and can be employed to identify new beta-lactamase inhibitors. We developed a whole-cell biosensor that quantifies beta-lactamase inhibition in a cellular context. This assay accounts for factors such as membrane permeability and can be used to identify novel beta-lactamase inhibitors.